The photograph had been taken outside a private club on North State Street.

Alexander Callaway was seventy-one.

Older.

Thinner.

But unmistakable.

Victor stared at the photograph inside a private hospital conference room.

Dominic stood across from him.

Emily sat in a wheelchair near the window despite the doctor's objections.

Victor turned to her.

“You knew he was in Chicago?”

“I suspected.”

“You should've told me.”

“You wouldn't have believed me.”

Victor held up the photograph.

“I would've believed this.”

“I didn't have it until recently.”

Dominic opened the metal box.

Inside were financial ledgers, photographs, bank documents, and several handwritten letters.

One was addressed to Victor.

He recognized his mother's handwriting immediately.

Victor didn't touch it.

Emily noticed.

“You should read it.”

“Later.”

“Victor.”

“Later.”

Dominic removed another document.

“This explains the warehouse fire.”

Victor looked up.

The official report said Alexander had died after becoming trapped inside the building.

The document in Dominic's hand showed a payment made to the medical examiner two days later.

Victor gave a humorless laugh.

“Twelve years.”

Emily watched him.

“He wanted everyone to believe he was gone.”

“Why?”

Dominic answered.

“Because federal investigators were closing in.”

Emily nodded.

“He disappeared, left the unstable parts of the organization to you, and waited.”

Victor looked at her.

“For what?”

“For you to make it legitimate.”

Victor understood.

Over twelve years, he had closed several of his father's most dangerous operations and moved much of the Callaway fortune into legal businesses—real estate, freight, restaurants, security firms.

Alexander had allowed his son to clean the empire.

Now he wanted it back.

Dominic's phone rang.

He answered.

His face hardened.

“Where?”

Victor watched him.

Dominic ended the call.

“Marcus.”

“Found?”

“He contacted us.”

Victor's eyes narrowed.

“What does he want?”

“To meet.”

Emily immediately said, “No.”

Victor looked at her.

“He says he has information about Alexander.”

“It's a trap.”

“Probably.”

“Then don't go.”

Victor walked toward the window.

Emily's voice sharpened.

“Victor.”

He turned.

“You've ignored me exactly once about getting into a car. I'm beginning to think that was enough.”

Despite everything, Emily almost smiled.

Almost.

Victor continued.

“I'll meet Marcus somewhere public.”

Dominic shook his head.

“He requested the old Callaway freight terminal.”

“Absolutely not,” Emily said.

Victor looked at Dominic.

“Tell Marcus the location changes or there is no meeting.”

Two hours later, Marcus Reed sat alone at a table inside a closed downtown restaurant.

Victor entered with Dominic.

No weapons were displayed. No threats were necessary.

Marcus looked exhausted.

Victor sat across from him.

“You tried to kill me.”

Marcus shook his head.

“I planted the bomb.”

“That's not a denial.”

“It was never supposed to detonate.”

Victor stared at him.

“Careful.”

Marcus leaned forward.

“Alexander ordered it. He wanted Emily to discover it.”

Victor's expression changed.

Emily had been right.

“Why?”

“To flush her out.”

“Then why attack her?”

“I didn't.”

Victor stared at him.

Marcus continued.

“I found her near the river. Someone else was already there.”

“Who?”

“I don't know.”

“Convenient.”

“I pulled them away from her.”

Dominic scoffed.

“You expect us to believe you're the hero now?”

“No.”

Marcus looked at Victor.

“I expect you to understand your father.”

Victor's voice was cold.

“You don't know my father better than I do.”

Marcus shook his head.

“That's the problem. I do.”

He slid a phone across the table.

On the screen was a message.

MIDNIGHT. CALLAWAY HOUSE.

Victor looked up.

“He's coming to my mansion?”

“He never stopped thinking it was his.”

“Why tell me?”

Marcus's expression changed.

“Because Alexander lied to me too.”

“About?”

“My family.”

Victor waited.

“He promised they would be protected. Instead, they're being watched.”

“So now you want mercy.”

“I want them left out of this.”

Victor stared at him.

“Give me Alexander.”

Marcus nodded toward the phone.

“He'll come tonight because he thinks the evidence box is still missing.”

Victor leaned back.

“It isn't.”

“I know.”

Marcus looked toward Dominic.

“And once Alexander realizes you have it, he'll disappear again.”

Victor stood.

“Then we'll make sure he doesn't.”

Marcus looked up.

“How?”

Victor finally picked up his mother's letter.

“By giving him the one thing he's waited twelve years to take.”

“What?”

Victor's expression became calm.

“My empire.”

---